by Professor David Taylor, Director of Pharmacy and Pathology, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Psychopharmacology at King’s College London.

Panic attacks are a frightening experience and can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.  They can be triggered by a specific situation or phobia.

During a panic attack people experience an overwhelming sense of fear along with physical symptoms such as a fast or irregular heartbeat, nausea, sweating and trembling.  Most attacks last for between 5 and 20 minutes.  Some people have attacks once or twice a month, while others have them several times a week. Read more Panic attacks and how they are treated ›